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Above ground garden question

We are going to build an above ground garden and want to use some sort of brick/stone type as the border to keep the top soil. Probably 8 feet by 4 feet. Anyone know a good place that sells a lot of these pavers in the Des Moines area?

Re: Above ground garden question

I"m going to assume you're talking about building a retaining wall. Is that correct?

I would check these places out first des moines retaining walls - Google Maps, but if there's a King's Materials in DSM (don't think that there is), I would go with them. Used them a lot and have always found their bricks easy to work with.

Re: Above ground garden question

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

Is there such thing as an underground garden?

Its as opposed to a garden that's level with the surrounding grade. The soil in my area of town is full of a lot of clays and is not suitable for growth. I'd prefer to raise it a few inches and get top soil mixed in.

Re: Above ground garden question

Originally Posted by mjones34

Its as opposed to a garden that's level with the surrounding grade. The soil in my area of town is full of a lot of clays and is not suitable for growth. I'd prefer to raise it a few inches and get top soil mixed in.

Re: Above ground garden question

Your cheapest and easiest installation process is going to be cinder blocks. You could cap them with some treated lumber and tapcon them down into the block. Retaining wall blocks from big box stores are garbage. If you are going to pay for nicer looking block go to Rhino Materials in Des Moines. They have a large selection. Any other questions feel free to PM me.

Re: Above ground garden question

I helped my dad put some in a few years ago at our home. We put 4X4 posts in the corners, and put 2X10 treated lumber up the sides. For one this small, you could probably screw together a wolmanized box, and just set it on the ground to fill with soil. You also might dig out some of the clay and put sand below the soil as drainage is usually an issue.

Re: Above ground garden question

If this is going to be a garden where you're growing things you're going to eat you may want to stay away from railroad ties and treated lumber - what goes into your garden will be going into your food.

If you need topsoil to fill it there are a couple places down on Raccoon River Drive in WDM. I've used Hallett Materials (good soil, a little chunky, but from an old hog lot so it's fertile, at a reasonable price) and Lounsbury Landscaping (great soil with excellent texture and drainage, but more expensive).

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